Successful management of severe generalized tetanus in a 23‐year man with phenobarbital adjuvant: A case report

Abstract

Key Clinical Message Generalized tetanus is still a global concern with a mortality rate of up to 50%, especially in low and middle‐income countries. We reported a 23‐year‐old man from Afghanistan admitted to emergency department, with the chief complaint of generalized severe spasms and lockjaw. The patient had skin lesions and had never been vaccinated against tetanus. He intubated and admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) with diagnose of severe generalized tetanus. After receiving tetanus immunoglobulin and intravenous metronidazole, a combination therapy of midazolam, propofol, atracurium, and morphine was administered. Due to the refractory muscular spasms intravenous phenobarbital started and little by little recovery was achieved. The patient receiving the first two doses of the Td vaccine, and discharged on Day 42 of hospitalization with no symptom recurrence. This case management showed adding phenobarbital to severe tetanus treatment regimen could significantly reduce refractory spasm caused by tetanus, also decrease other medication requirement.

Keywords

• intensive care unit
• phenobarbital
• refractory spasm
• tetanus